Bag pressure indicating device for suction cleaners



Nov. 14, 1939. l Q BERG 2,179,808

BAG PRESSURE INDIIGATING DEV/ICE FR'SUCTION CLEANERS F'iled'May 9, 1938 'ws' M INVENroR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 14, 1939 PATENT OFFICE BAG PRESSURE INDICATING DEVICE FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Quentin Berg, Akron,

Ohio, assignor to .The

Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May s, 193s,- serial No. 206,855l

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in bag pressure indicators for suction cleaners and more particularly to means for warning the operator.

that the dirt bag has been filled beyond its normalv capacity and should be emptied.

` In suction cleaners of the portable hand-maneuvered type, the dirt-laden air is discharged into a porous fabric bag capable of retaining the dirt but allowing the air to pass therethrough with a minimum of resistance. In the course of normal cleaning operation, the dirt bag gradually becomes filled and the effective filtering area. correspondingly reduced, with the result that if the bagis not emptied of its contents periodically,- excessive back pressure Ais created which materially reduces the eiiiciency of the suction system as well as the cleaning effectiveness of the device.

Users of suction ,cleaners are prone to neglect the emptying of the dirt bag at regular intervals unless reminded of the necessity for so doing and therefore some manufacturers have equipped suction cleaners with automatic signalling devices which either visually indicate pressure conditions or display a warning signal. For the most part,v these indicating or signalling devices are actuated by a pressure-responsive element 1ocated on the .pressure side of the fan chamber and responding directly to the increased pressure resulting from over-capacity bag conditions.

The object of the present invention is to provide van improved indicating device, the novel features thereof residing more particularly in the character of the signal displayed, namely,

' the sudden appearance of a beam of light through a Windowin the upper wall of the cleaner casing and readily discernible by the operator from above.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a general view in side elevation of a suction cleaner equipped with one of the novel indicating devices and with the upper portion of the cleaner casing shown in section to show the source of the light and means for directing and controlling the same; and

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view in perspective of the pressure regulated mirror that controls the light beam.

The suction cleaner disclosed in Figure 1 may be typical of any standard make or design, al. though to carry out the present improvement it must preferably be equipped with a headlight for 55 illuminating the floorsurface immediately ahead of the cleaner and a dome-like cover or casing ,not only enclosing the motor and headlight but a space considerably greater than that occupied by'both and extending lengthwise of the cleaner' casing. l 5

Thus, in Figure 1, the main body or casing I of the cleaner includes the nozzle chamber 2 located at its forward end, a fan chamber housing the suction fan 3 and a discharge outlet e l terminating in a flanged connection la vat the l0 rear end of the casing. Detachably mounted to the flanged outlet connection la is a dirt bag 6 preferably of a porous woven fabric ltering material and into which the dirt laden air is discharged directly from the outlet passage I from the fan chamber.

Supported upon the casing I and having direct driving connection with the suction fan 3 is an electric motor I located substantially centrally of the top wall of the casing I, which forms the support for the base of the motor. A dome-like hood or cover 'I is removably supported upon the casing I and, as clearly shown in Figure 1, extends from a point well forwardly of the motor upwardly and thence rearwardly to the outlet connection la at the rear of the cleaner casing.' The walls of the cover 1 are spaced from the motor 6 on all sides, thus leaving the chambers or compartments in front of and at the rear of the motor as well as an open space above.

Located in the space or chamber immediately in front of the motor is an upstanding lamp I mounted in a socket supported on the base of the motor, this lamp being positioned directly behind an opening or window 9 in the front wall of 35 the cover 1 and so arranged as to direct the light rays forwardly and downwardly upon the oor surface just ahead of the nozzle. `For the purpose of this disclosure, it may be assumed that the lamp 8, receiving its current from the same 40 source as does the motor, is lighted while the cleaner is being operated.

Referring now to the indicating device, the pressure-responsive element thereof consists of a circular diaphragm Ill extending over'an opening 45 II formed in that portion of the top wall of the casing I-which forms the exhaust passagel from the fan chamber. This diaphragm may be a metal disc corrugated concentrically to `give it flexibility or may be constructed of any other suitable resilient material; in either case, its distortion in response to variations in pressure with in the discharge passage being translated into a vertical endwise movement of a cylindric stud I3 mounted at the center of the diaphragm with as pointed tip portion projecting a short distance above the top wall of the casing.

Mounted on-the top of the casing I just forwardly of the aperture II is a dat plate I4 hinged along one edge to swing about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the cleaner body. This hinged plate extends rearwardly and over the aperture II with its underside contacting the stud I3 carried by the diaphragm I 0. As will presently be pointed out, the upper surface of the plate I4 is polished to form a mirror-like surface, but for the present further details of its mountingv will be considered: A bracket I5 of L-section is suitably anchored as by rivets to the top surface of the casing I and is provided with upturned ears I5a to support a bearing pin I6 for the plate I4, as clearly shown in Figure 2. 'I'he plate I4 has tubular portions I4a along its hinged edge surrounding the pin which has its central portion exposed to accommodate a coiled torsion spring I'I having one end bearing against the top face of the plate I4 and theother end extending rearwardly and upwardly to engage one of a series of stepped notches I5b cut in the edge of the upstanding portion of the L-shaped bracket I5. These notches correspond to varying angular positions of the adjustable end portion of the torsion spring I1 so that by shifting said end from one notch to another serves to vary the tension exerted by the torsion spring upon the plate I4. And finally, a pair vofstop members I8, I8 mounted upon the bracket I5 extend upwardly and over the vtubular bearing portions I4a of the plate I4 with their forward ends terminating a short distance above the normal horizontal plane of the plate I4. As clearly shown in Figure 1, these stop members serve to limit the swinging movement of the plate I4 in an upward direction from its normal horizontal position, it being apparent that the extreme angle of displacement of the plate I4 is limited to the somewhat limited displacement of the diaphragm I Il.

Now, bearing in mind that the upper surface of the plate I4 is a light-reflecting surface, it will next be observed that immediately above the lamp 8 and supported against the inner surface of the dome-like cover 'I is a stationary reflector I9 inclined at an angle of approximately 45. Directly to the rear of the reflector I9 and located just above the rear portion ofthe motor 6 is a second stationary reflector 20 mounted ony the underside of the top wall of the cover 1, this second reflector being inclined at. an angle such that the light reflected from the first sta- 'tionary reflector I9 is directed in a downward and rearward direction upon the hinged mirror or reflecting plate I4. In other words, the light emanating from the lamp 81s refiected rearwardly and downwardly upo the mirror surface of the plate I4, as indicated by the direction arrows.

As a practical matter, it may be desirable to concentrate the light from the lamp 8 into a beam in order to intensify the ultimate signal made visible to the operator and for this purpose, a semi-spherical reflector or shield 2| is preferably fitted over the tip end of lamp 8, the central portion of this shield having the form of a tubular extension in which a small lens 22 is fitted. In ,this way the light from the lamp is transmitted from one reector to the other as a beam of appreciable intensity.

And finally, located above and in vertical alignment with the central portion of the reecting plate I4 is a window or aperture 23 headlight strikes the mirrored surface of ther plate I4 which is angularly adjustable through a relatively small angle by the displacement of the diaphragm. Thus, assuming that the pressure within the outlet passage is normal therefore insufficient to distort the diaphragmy I0, the hinged reflector plate remains ina horizontal position, as shown in full lines in Figure 1 and as a consequence, the beam of light striking its surface is reflected therefrom, but since the angle of reflection is equal to the angle of incident, the reflected beam strikes the inner surface of the cover I somewhere rearwardly of the window 23, as shown by the full line arrows.`

But now assuming that the dirt bag becomes filled with dirt to such an extent that the increasing bag pressure causes the diaphragm to respond, the accompanying distortion is followed by the vertical displacement of the stud I3 and the angular displacement of the hinged reector plate I4. And finally, when the bag pressure has increased to a point suchthat the emptying of the bagis necessary, the reflector plate assumes its maximum position of angularity and in this position the reflected beam from the headlight is reflected in a direct vertical line through the window 23 and becomes visible to the operator, who recognizing the meaning of the signal, will then know that the bag should be emptied without further delay.

Thus it follows that the reflected beam is only visible under conditions that require immediate attention to the bag; under other and normal operating conditions no signal being visible.

Having set forth a preferred embodiment of the improved bag pressure indicating device,

I claim:

1. An operating condition indicator for a suction cleaner, comprising a pressure -responsive element subject to pressure changes in the suction-creating system of said cleaner, a reflector mounted for angular adjustment on the body of the cleaner and having operative connection with said` pressure-responsive element, ar; enclosure for said reflector having an aperture through which light reiiected from said reflected from said reflectormay be visible from above, and a source of light within said enclosure and adapted to have the light therefrom projected upon said reflector and thence through said aperture for certain angular positions of said reflector under predetermined pressure conditions in said suction system to indicate one condition of said cleaner, the arrangement of said aperture and the adjustability of said reflector being such that another condition of said cleaner is indicated when light remember, a source of light within said enclosure. and means for directing the light' from said source onto the reiecting surface of said signal member, said enclosure having an aperture with,

which the beam of light from said reflecting surface regsters when said signal member is angularly displaced under predetermined pressure conditions in said suction system to indicate one condition of said cleaner, the arrangement of said aperture and the displaceability of said signal member being such that another condition of said cleaner is indicated when light reflected from said reflector fails to register with said aperture.

3. An operating condition indicator for a suction cleaner, comprisingy a pressure-responsive element subject to pressure variations in the suction-creating system oi the cleaner, a reiiector mounted on the body of the cleaner for angular displacement and operatively connected with said pressure-responsive element, a cover extending over said reflector and having a relatively small aperture therein, a lamp mounted beneath said cover, and means for directing the rays of light from said lamp onto said reflector to be reflected therefrom at an angle to pass through said aperture for certain angular positions of said reflector under predetermined pressure conditions in said suction-creating system to indicate one condition of said cleaner, another condition of said cleaner being indicated when the angular/A adjustment of said reector such that light fails to pass through said a erture.

4. An operating condition indicator for suction K cleaners, comprising a pressure-responsive element subject to pressure variations in the suction-creating system of the cleaner, a reflector operatively connected with said pressure-responsive element and mounted on the cleaner body for angular adjustment, a hood extending over said reflectorV and having an aperture substantially above said reflector, a lamp mounted beneath said hood, and means for directing a beam of light from said lamp onto said rei-lector and thence to be reected upwardly therefrom at an angle to register with said amaturefor certain angular positions of said reiirliurl under ,predetermined pressure conditions -in the suction-creating system to indicate one condition of said cleaner, the arrangement of said aperture and the adjustability of said reector being such that another condition of said cleaner is indicated when light reflected from said reflector fails to register with said aperture.

5. An operating condition indicator for a suction cleaner, comprising a diaphragm mounted on the cleaner body and responsive to pressure variations in the suction-creating system thereof, a reflector operatively connected with said diaphragm and pivotally mounted on the cleaner body for a limited angular displacement, a hood extending over the top of said cleaner body and enclosing said reflector, said hood having an aperture in its wall positioned substantially above said reflector, a lamp enclosed within said hood, and reecting elements within said hood for directing a beam of light from said lamp onto said reflector at a relatively acute angle of incidence, whereby the reflected beam of light from said reflector is brought into register with said aperture in angular positions of said reector corresponding to pedetermined pressure conditions within said suction-creating system to indicate one condition of said cleaner, the arrangement of said aperture and the displaceability of said reflector being such that another ,condition of vsaid cleaner is indicated when light reilected from said reflector fails to register with said aperture.

6. An operating condition indicator for a suc-v tion cleaner, .comprising a pressure-responsive diaphragm extending over an aperture in the top wall of the exhaust passage of the cleaner,

a reector mounted to rest upon said diaphragm and hinged along one edge oi said aperture for a limited angular displacement by said diaphragm, a hood extending over said reector and having a window in its top wall and above said reector, a lamp enclosed within said hoodrer'note from said reflector, said hood being provided with reliecting surfaces for directing a beam of light from said lamp to said reilector at a relatively acute angle of incidence, whereby a beam of reected light registers with said aperture in the angular position of said reflector corresponding to a predetermined increased pressure within said exhaust passage to indicate one condition of said cleaner, the arrangement of said aperture and4 the displaceability of said reflector being such that another condition o said cleaner is indicated when light reflected from said reflector fails to register with said aperture.

QUnN'rm BERG.l 

